US vows to keep South China Sea free

The Donald Trump administration revealed that it would prevent China from taking over the South China Sea.

The Donald Trump administration revealed that it would prevent China from taking over the South China Sea.

On Monday, members of the administration weighed in on the South China Sea proprietorship dispute. Former Exxon Mobil Corp chief exec and chairman and current U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, stated that the United States of America would possibly have to take a more assertive stance against Chinese expansion in the region at his congressional hearing.

"We're going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed," said Tillerson.

These remarks by Tillerson caused Beijing to announce through Chinese state media that the U.S. would need to wage war against China to keep it from expanding in the South China Sea. China has already installed weapons systems, built military facilities, and installed military air strips in the islands.

Sean Spicer, White House spokesman, revealed that after years of the United States of America taking a cautious, hands off approach to the Pacific sea territory, they would now keep China from taking over what has been ruled international waters.

"The U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," said Spicer when asked if Trump agreed with thecomments made by Tillerson. "It's a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yeah, we're going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country.